Reagan Model Will Humble Arrogant China

IBD Editorials ^ | January 18, 2011 | LAWRENCE KUDLOW

[Kaslin]

Is there a new Cold War developing between China and the United States? That's a question hovering over President Hu Jintao and his entourage as they come to Washington to discuss military, trade, and financial flash points with the Obama administration.

President Hu told the Wall Street Journal that "we should abandon the zero-sum Cold War mentality." But is he to be believed?

Everyone agrees that this is a new, muscular, and more aggressive China. The more the Chinese strengthen economically, the more rambunctious they become with their foreign policy. Americans are increasingly irritated by this arrogance.

Just last week — and just as the Pentagon plans to cut back on the modernized F-22 stealth fighter — China insulted Defense Secretary Robert Gates by test-flying its own J-20 stealth bomber during his visit. Admiral Mike Mullen, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wondered out loud why China is boosting its high-tech weaponry. He said, "Many of these capabilities seem to be focused very specifically on the United States."

Surely the J-20 flight was a snub to Washington. Surely China's whole military buildup is aimed directly at us. And surely China is of no particular help when it comes to the nuclear operations of North Korea and Iran.

There, of course, are numerous trade violations being committed by China. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke wants a level playing field on trade. As a strong free-trader myself, I recognize the many benefits free and open trade offers both China and the United States. But like many others, my free-trade patience with China is wearing thin.

[EyeGuy]

Well, to have a Cold War, you have to first have an Administration that loves the United States and is looking out for her best interests.

I’d say we are one Administration short...

[KC_Lion]

Yes, we are all working hard to rectify that problem, mainly by sending Americans back to work and defending the country and sending Obama to the unemployment lines hes been so happily making.

[devere]

Larry Kudlow lives in fantasy land.

[DesertRhino]

One big difference from the Reagan model,,, we DIDN’T owe the USSR 800 Billion dollars. It’s easier to be pushy when you aren’t simultaneously begging from them. Just sayin’,,

[Mariner]

Kudlow advocating the gold standard? Wow.

While he got it mostly right, he didn't go far enough into the artificial peg of the Yuan to the Dollar.

The US should issue China an ultimatum: Either allow the Yaun to float freely on the currency exchanges or we will impose a 40% tariff on every product imported from China.

Anyone, anyone who has unrestricted trade with China is committing suicide.

And no, don't bother me with the issue of the $1tril in US Bonds they hold. They can't cash them. Everyone in the world knows they can't cash them. We won't cash them.

Hell, we'll never pay the entire US Treasury debt of $14Tril+.

The Chinese have nothing to counter us with. We are in the driver's seat and all we have to do is drive.

[snowsislander]

Everyone agrees that this is a new, muscular, and more aggressive China. The more the Chinese strengthen economically, the more rambunctious they become with their foreign policy. Americans are increasingly irritated by this arrogance.

It is heavily and sadly ironic that we are the foolish ones that built Red China into an economic colossus. That money has been and will be used to fund the bellicose PRC military.

We should cease all normal trade relations with the PRC. At this point, it will do virtually nothing to stop their ascent. At least it might give our economy some breathing room to try to rebuild our heavy manufacturing base. Or, in this economically slow period, we might not see such growth.

At the rate that we are going, we will have no heavy industry of any type left soon. I believe that our ability to build and repair ships, for instance, is now pretty much a matter of history, with only a tiny fraction of even our capacity 60 years ago, yet today's sea trade is far greater that it was then.

[lentulusgracchus]

(Kudlow Art.) President Hu told the Wall Street Journal that "we should abandon the zero-sum Cold War mentality." But is he to be believed?

When was the last time a visiting dignitary used a uniformed army officer as an official interpreter?

A Chinese soldier standing three feet from the President of the United States? I didn't like it, even if it was Obozo.

I really don't like that imagery. Next photo-op, the President is attended by two Marine Corps gunnery sergeants in camos. Slung arms, of course. One to translate Mandarin and the other to glare at the Chinese officer-puke.